Comparison · Ho Chi Minh City vs Kuala Lumpur · Vietnam / Malaysia
Ho Chi Minh City vs Kuala Lumpur
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Choose Ho Chi Minh City for War Remnants Museum, Independence Palace and lower day-to-day costs; choose Kuala Lumpur for Petronas Twin Towers and Batu Caves. Ho Chi Minh City is generally less expensive, and the two are about 1,013 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 1,013 km
- Less expensive
- Ho Chi Minh City
- Best time for Ho Chi Minh City
- December–March
- Best time for Kuala Lumpur
- January–February and June–July
Side by side
| Ho Chi Minh City | Kuala Lumpur | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Vietnam | Malaysia |
| Known for | War Remnants Museum, Independence Palace and Bến Thành Market | Petronas Twin Towers, Batu Caves and Hawker food |
| Best time to visit | December–March | January–February and June–July |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $60–$130 | $80–$160 |
| Cost level | Very affordable | Affordable |
| Warmest month | April, 35°C (95°F) | February, 33°C (91°F) |
| Coldest month | September, 31°C (88°F) | January, 32°C (90°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 9 | 11 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | SGN | KUL, SZB |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Ho Chi Minh City for…
War Remnants Museum, Independence Palace and lower day-to-day costs. Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by most residents, is Vietnam's largest city and its commercial engine on the Saigon River. Visitors focus on District 1, where the Central Post Office, Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Opera House and Bến Thành Market are a…
Choose Kuala Lumpur for…
Petronas Twin Towers and Batu Caves. Kuala Lumpur grew from a 19th-century tin-mining settlement at the confluence of the Klang and Gombak rivers into Malaysia's capital, where the 452-metre Petronas Twin Towers rise over Malay, Chinese and Indian neighbourhoods. Visitors split their time…
Top sights compared
| # | Ho Chi Minh City | Kuala Lumpur |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | War Remnants Museum | Petronas Twin Towers |
| 2 | Independence Palace | KLCC Park |
| 3 | Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon | Batu Caves |
| 4 | Saigon Central Post Office | Menara KL (KL Tower) |
| 5 | Bến Thành Market | Merdeka Square and Sultan Abdul Samad Building |
Food compared
| Ho Chi Minh City | Kuala Lumpur |
|---|---|
| Broken rice | Nasi lemak |
| Bánh mì | Roti canai |
| Southern phở | Char kway teow |
| Hủ tiếu Nam Vang | KL Hokkien mee |
Which is cheaper?
Ho Chi Minh City is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $60–$130 per person there, against $80–$160 in Kuala Lumpur (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Ho Chi Minh City on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 1,013 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 9 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Ho Chi Minh City or Kuala Lumpur cheaper?
Ho Chi Minh City is usually less expensive: about $60–$130 a day mid-range against $80–$160 (estimates).
+Is Ho Chi Minh City or Kuala Lumpur better for a first trip?
Pick Ho Chi Minh City for War Remnants Museum, Independence Palace and lower day-to-day costs, or Kuala Lumpur for Petronas Twin Towers and Batu Caves.
+How far is Ho Chi Minh City from Kuala Lumpur?
About 1,013 km in a straight line.